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a versatile tarp

I am brainstorming about an idea I have.... I was looking around on white blaze and found a thread that talked about tarp tents that are very much like a real tent- walls, floor, mosquito netting. All Therese weigh in very low for all they do. And they cost around the same as a hammock tarp. However they are a tent. And I need a hammock tarp.... but what if I can't sleep in a hammock? Like if there are no good trees around or if I m having a rare girly day and want the privacy only a tent can offer. So that got me thinking what if I could make a tarp that could be my perfectly enclosed tent, but also my hammock tarp? It doesn't need a floor it just needs to be good and enclosed when on the ground. Has anyone tried this?

Any rectangle tarp will do, and really, so will any larger 4 season tarp like the superfly. There is no rule that says you can't use a hammock tarp for those times when you have to go to ground. I think a lot of people seem to forget that a tarp is a tarp regardless if it is over a hammock or not.

Also, the best part of a tarp like the superfly is that you can still sleep in a hammock and get all the privacy you want.

I don't know if anyone has tried it, but you are all but certain to have condensation issues if you close up sil. Perhaps a combination of sil where you absolutely have to be dry, and dwr ripstop in the less critical areas.

You can either set up with the tarp on the ground and have clips on the underside to lift up the bug net of your hammock and use it as a bivy.

Or you can take the tarp and add (a foot?) bug net around the perimeter. If you go this route and you know what pitch you prefer then you could also add a zipper to one edge so you can make a door that closes easily (fold the edge on itself and then zip from the corners to the center). My friend went this route and it works well for him as well.

The downside to the first is that you have to be in the "hammock bivy" for bug protection.

Personally, I've gone the former and it sets up decently in my back yard. Here's what I use:
- DL hammock (only DL so that i can insert my 1/8" pad)
- Bug Net (Fronkey style, but with cinched bottom instead of shock chord)
- 10x12 tarp (sized for 2 people on the ground...haven't used it for 2 hammocks)
- 1/8" pad (20x72 i think)

So...I attach the bug net to the underside of my tarp (had to modify the tarp for this) using a few rocks and light cordage.
Bug net goes on top of my hammock and 1/8" pad that are set on top of some pine needles or leaves for comfort since the pad isn't very supportive.

That's pretty much it. Eventually, I want to modify the bug net with some tie-outs so that all I have to do is carry some pre-made clips that would weight next to nothing and set up in a few minutes.

I was concerned about not having places to hang during my bike ride across Missouri. Therefore, my nephew and I used tarps that could convert to a tarptent for two.

I used polyurethane coated nylon for the tarps--a heavy material, but pretty tough. I did a hex-shape for my tarp, and DIY Gear Supply's Winter Dream design for my nephew's. The idea was that if we couldn't find trees, we could string his tarp between the bikes, and use mine for a ground cloth.

It would be nice to have a more integrated solution for a single camper.

go to warbonnet outdoors look at the spinaker it completly encloses the hammock then use your tarp for a roof i havent set one up as i just got it yesterday ,but this was my attempt to gain what your looking for.with the spin and my cuban tarp i get good coverage and it only weighs as much as some tarps at 16.5 oz.good luck

go to warbonnet outdoors look at the spinaker it completly encloses the hammock then use your tarp for a roof i havent set one up as i just got it yesterday ,but this was my attempt to gain what your looking for.with the spin and my cuban tarp i get good coverage and it only weighs as much as some tarps at 16.5 oz.good luck